Case Files 013

Chapter 145: The Killer

All the fragments aligned in my mind, things hadn't been as clear as it was now. However, after I knew the truth, I didn't know how to face the five before me. The killers were the five of them but also not the five of them. The incident would have to be traced back to 9 days ago.

9 days ago, Luo Sumei did have an argument with Chief Zhou but unlike what Chief Zhou claimed, that wasn't the last time he talked to her. Elm Town was a very small town, so small that as the town's detective, he could find the surveillance blind spot with his eyes closed. Our suspect was someone with strong anti-surveillance skill and thus theoretically also had strong surveillance skill, there was no one more fitting of that role in this town than Chief Zhou. Since he was part of the law enforcement, it was easy for Chief Zhou to avoid the police.

That afternoon, it was snowing heavily. Everyone was staying at the hostel and no one paid any attention to who might have left. Chief Zhou made use of this opportunity to escape. I heard from many people that Chief Zhou was a dummy, Er Xiao had called him that, Luo Sumei had called him that. Luo Sumei said that a dummy was coming to fetch her and the dummy was going to give her 500000 RMB. That dummy was Chief Zhou but as we already knew, Chief Zhou had no means of producing 500000 RMB.

So Chief Zhou drove Luo Sumei to First Drain Village where he planned to kill her. Chief Zhou used a wire to tie around Luo Sumei's neck. The wire ate into flesh and a bloody line soon appeared on Luo Sumei's neck, it wouldn't take long for the woman to die. Chief Zhou was conflicted but he had to do this. Because he couldn't produce the 500000 RMB but even more than that, he couldn't afford to lose his job.

However, halfway through, Chief Zhou heard the sound of a vehicle coming from the village. If someone saw him, Chief Zhou's whole life would be ruined. He put down Luo Sumei. By then, the woman had already stopped struggling. He put away the wire, dropped Luo Sumei's ‘body' by the roadside, hopped into his car and escaped from the scene. Chief Zhou's heart must have been pounding when he left because he couldn't be sure whether Luo Sumei had died or not. However, he couldn't stay for further examination because if someone saw him, his deed would be exposed. Chief Zhou's plan was perfect, he just didn't expect Er Xiao would go into town to restock his store on that day despite the weather.

Chief Zhou's worry was not unfounded because Luo Sumei was indeed still alive. Sometimes, human beings could be so fragile but at other times, they could be so tough. There was a bloody gash on Luo Sumei's neck. She fainted from fear but she didn't die. Luo Sumei probably didn't expect that the dummy in her eyes would dare to kill her.

Human nature was greed but when that greed surpassed another person's bottomline, even the most honest person would be pushed to action. Chief Zhou did consider marrying Luo Sumei, but Luo Sumei rejected him every time, because the only reason she agreed to be his girlfriend was for his money. Chief Zhou didn't have much salary, only 3000 RMB per month. However, one time, Luo Sumei accidentally discovered Chief Zhou's secret and from then on, Luo Sumei would be able to earn 3000 RMB monthly without having to do anything. It was because of this secret that Chief Zhou was forced to kill.

It was also because of this secret that I knew Chief Zhou was involved in this case.

Luo Sumei thought she could live on this secret forever but she had no idea death was already approaching. Chief Zhou offered her 500000 RMB to keep the secret, because he knew her biggest dream was to own a house at Elm Town and 500000 RMB was enough to do that.

Luo Sumei instantly agreed and she happily went for a pedicure. Even though I was not familiar with Luo Sumei, I believed she didn't come from a rich background, or else she wouldn't have to blackmail Chief Zhou for 3000 RMB per month and she wouldn't need to die for it.

After having her breakfast, Luo Sumei sauntered into the pedicure shop. She looked around and was reminded of her mother's reprimand, ‘how do you expect to work with nails like that? Stop dreaming and finish your work!' But Luo Sumei wouldn't need to work after she got the 500000 RMB, and in a way, she was correct. She was happy and chatted a lot with Tony, she had no idea those would be her last words. And that was going to be her first and last pedicure of her life.

When she was done, someone called her and she hopped into his car.

That 1 minute felt like a century for Luo Sumei. Holding her neck, she stood up. The chill of the snow was not as strong as the chill in her heart. She had never been to this place before. Thankfully, at that moment, a truck was coming towards her. It was an old truck and it was driving very slowly.josei

Luo Sumei ran out into the street and scared Er Xiao who was driving. Er Xiao didn't know this woman but he stopped when he saw the blood leaking out from behind the fingers around her neck. Er Xiao never encountered something like this before but he knew to offer the woman help. When she was in the truck, he said, "The hospital is rather far, we'll go to the village clinic." The woman nodded, still in catatonic shock.

Er Xiao asked her what happened. Perhaps she was too afraid so she told Er Xiao everything. Luo Sumei said she was the girlfriend of Elm Town's Chief Zhou Jianse's girlfriend. He attempted to kill her because she knew his secret. Then she sighed in relief, "Thankfully you happen to pass by."

Er Xiao didn't answer. Luo Sumei hadn't been to First Drain Village so she had no idea the truck had already passed the village clinic. They left the village and Luo Sumei asked with concern. Er Xiao told her not to worry. When she saw the convenience store, Luo Sumei felt better. Er Xiao explained, "There is a bandage inside my store, we'll help bandage your wound first."

Luo Sumei decided to trust this good Samaritan. However, the world was cruel and it taught her a lesson. After she walked into the store, she felt a heavy blow to the back of her neck and she fainted. When she woke up, she woke up in darkness. She shivered and then only realized she was naked. She had escaped from one hell into another. She screamed until her voice was dry but it was pointless. The sky was snowing and no one would come to this place. She leaned against the boxes, trying to surround herself among their warmth.

Er Xiao drove the truck to Lee Danan's place and called his good friends. They sat at Lee Danan's home and decided on what to do. Lee Danan was reminded of the article he read in the toilet. He found the article and showed it to them. The 5 of them chose one method of dismemberment each.

Er Xiao said, "Since we've decided to do this, then we have to go all the way. Since this is someone Chief Zhou wanted to kill, then he's in the same boat as us. Even if he discovers the body, he wouldn't dare to expose us." The rest of them nodded. They took the truck back to Er Xiao Convenience Store and walked down into the basement.

The rest happened as Er Xiao described. Luo Sumei was awakened from the extreme pain. Er Xiao grabbed a nearby strap and that left behind the second ligature mark. The rest went according to plan.

But they didn't expect that Chief Zhou did not come alone for the investigation. They originally planned to confide in Chief Zhou because they knew Chief Zhou wouldn't arrest them. The five of them would come up with testimonies to say that this was the work of a psychopath and he had already escaped from the highway. That way, all five of them would be safe and Chief Zhou would be safe.

However, they had no idea where I stood. As my investigation deepened, they knew this incident would soon be exposed. Right then they decided, if that was the case, they would sacrifice Lee Danan. The man already had cancer anyway.

To exclude Chief Zhou from suspicion, they taunted the police repeatedly, they fed us human dumplings, wrote the bloody message and sent the SMS to Chief Zhou. Chief Zhou ate the human dumplings with us and he was part of the investigation, there was no reason for us to suspect him.

To end the case, they tossed out Lee Danan but I didn't fall for the bait. After that, the group of five decided to sacrifice themselves. They put up layers of deception and tried their best to hide the truth but the truth would always prevail. But what was the truth?

After working for months with Chief Zhou, I was very familiar with the man. If he was not truly cornered, he would not do something like this. So what would I do?

Allow the five of them to continue acting, so everyone would have their happy endings or expose these 2 lies, and bare the bloody truth starkly for all to see?